It is just that I get so very down when we are not able to feed Annabel. Her belly hasn't work in a good while. We had so much hope but it seems her belly just can't take it.
We have been doing testing for the last 6 weeks or so. Just yesterday we went in to GI for the test results. He had not made a contact with surgery and I was just a little disappointed. But I love our GI doctor and how hard he tries to figure our little Annabel out.
We already knew what our surgeon thoughts are. We had an appointment originally to place a button into her jujunum (sp.) but when we spoke to him last week he said he wouldn't consider this. He said very directly that he knew her gut well from past surgery and that he had reviewed all her testing. He said she will never be able to eat until her colon is removed. He said it is and has been so largely dialated that it is so filled with air/gas that is acting as a wall when her small bowel tries to empty. But he was honest and then said even if we remove the colon that we may still have to go in later to remove the small bowel as it posses problems also. But he finished by saying he wanted to speak with GI after she was scoped which was scheduled the following day.
After yesterdays appointment with GI he is waiting to hear from surgeon. But many times Dr. C(GI dr.) has said there is one more med we could try if I was open to it. It does have some side-effects that aren't so great. I am thinking the side-effects of TPN aren't so great either. So we have a plan, we will begin it for one week, talk and possible up this first med. Then after the 2nd week if she tolerates this first med, he will begin rotating different antibiotics to try to kill the bacteria that is in her gut. We will then begin very small, slow feed and then begin the medicine that will hopefully help with motility(with the not so great side-effects). I realize this is so confusing but it is because I really don't understand it either. They will walk us through each step. Thank goodness for my nurse who takes good note and has a better memory than myself. She asked him if this doesn't work, what them. He has said a few time recently that he is running out of options. His answer to if this doesn't work was there is nothing else short of surgery. He agrees with the surgeon about why the colon isn't/can't work. He also acknowledges that the small bowel does have issues in itself. But as not to be a total downer, some will have to be removed but some maybe able to be redirected.
As we begin this regiment, I will try to find out the meds and update with the names and their uses. Tonight was our first night and I know this med is called Imipramine. We are beginning with a very small dose nightly. This med is an anti-depresant. This is so hard for me as I don't like Annabel on much meds at all. I love her personality and don't want it altered in any way. (I am willing to try this in the hopes that this regime with allow her to eat again one day and not have these surgeries that are being discussed.)
Thank you for all those that still read. I wish I was as faithful as I once was but this seems all I can offer right now.
Annabel is continuing to battle one UTI infection after the other. She averages about 5 days free of antibiotic and then is infected again. She is also battle c-diff (3 infections in the last 4 months). It is a crazy cycle that we can seem to find that balance. Just a couple months ago Annabel's weight was 38 plus pounds and yesterday she was 32 lbs. She seems so much more comfortable even though she is on the thin side. She seems to be stable with this weight. I will try to update soon.
